How will England do at T20 World Cup? Nasser Hussain, Eoin Morgan and Michael Atherton make event predictions

England's bid for a first T20 World Cup title in 12 years gets going on Saturday with Afghanistan first up for one of the crucial event favourites.

After a tough summer wherein they didn't win a white-ball collection on home soil, England have bounced returned with a 4-three success in Pakistan adopted with the aid of a 2-0 victory over Australia.

So, can Jos Buttler's in-form side go all the means over the following few weeks?

Saturday twenty second October eleven:30am

We requested Sky sports Cricket pundits Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton in addition to former England skipper Eoin Morgan for their innovations on that and a lot more.

examine on for his or her views and then capture England vs Afghanistan are living on Sky sports Cricket on Saturday, with build-up beginning at eleven.30am ahead of a noon start…

How will England do?

NASSER HUSSAIN: I believe they will be very competitive. they have a strong facet and a lot of options. You simplest must look at the gamers that might also should be unnoticed to see that. They appear to be peaking on the right time. Buttler appears in superb nick at the accurate of the order and there is loads of batting depth.

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Highlights from England's thumping win over Pakistan in Monday's T20 World Cup heat-up in Brisbane

I additionally feel the situations will suit them. It has been moist and cool in Australia and their seamers may still have fun with that. You by no means comprehend in T20 cricket. For England, the ultimate two World Cups have proven that you just handiest want one bad over and the match is taken far from you - but I feel they're located smartly. I predict them to make the semi-finals at the least.

i am on no account concerned about Ben Stokes. He hasn't played loads of T20 cricket of late for a whole lot of causes however in huge video games you want someone to handle drive, chiefly with the bat, and as we saw within the 50-over World Cup in 2019 and the Ashes examine at Headingley later that summer season, he is a really wise cricketer. he is also marvelous within the field and provides you a bowling variation so he'd really be in my facet, doubtless at No 4.

MICHAEL ATHERTON: England have nearly as good a chance as anybody in what I see as an attractive open match without a standout favourites. Plus, T20 is a more risky form of the game anyway.

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Rewind to the Caribbean in 2010 as England won their first - and thus far simplest - T20 World Cup title

England are fairly neatly-balanced. they've a protracted, powerful batting line-up with lots of harmful, boundary-hitting competencies in there and have loads of the features within the bowling that you need to do smartly in tournaments - pace, with Mark wood, wrist-spin with Adil Rashid and left-arm seam with Sam Curran and David Willey.

I suppose wood and Rashid are going to be the key bowlers for England. traditionally in Australia you'd feel circumstances would swimsuit tempo and wrist spin however with the weather patterns in the meanwhile, who is aware of? I nonetheless trust the one bowler England wouldn't want to lose is wood.

They fell down with their demise bowling within the remaining event and that may be the weak point once more, however they have got lots of gamers with big-fit tournament and franchise adventure so i would predict them to get out of their neighborhood - and after that it's anyone's video game.

EOIN MORGAN: I put them as joint favourites, with Australia, to win this competition as I feel they have been outstanding towards Australia.

losing to South Africa within the style that they did within the last T20 of the summer time become extremely disappointing. i thought that the style they batted took away the positivity, they have been miles off the mark as a way to leap returned as brief as they have got, in Pakistan and then in Australia, has been dazzling.

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Sky sports Cricket's Ian Ward says that the lack of Reece Topley to harm is a 'massive blow for England' - but that they've a strong replacement in Tymal Mills

they have long past from no longer figuring out what their most efficient crew is with injuries and guys out of form to a aspect that's spoiled for choice making an attempt to decide on a most reliable XI. they have a huge quantity of self belief.

must-win games in a bilateral collection are the closest you get a to an international Cup to be able to see England win the finding out game in Pakistan within the fashion and style that they did gave a nice perception into what is going on within the changing room.

Winners?

NASSER: any individual can win this match. New Zealand are always there or thereabouts, Pakistan are a good side specifically with Shaheen Shah Afridi coming lower back from injury, India have so a good deal T20 experience, category and depth, and England, as I said, may still do very well.

India, England and Australia are three of my 4 semi-finalists and my favourites can be Australia. They convey in drive video games and recognize the circumstances playing at home. That might be key in this event with diverse venues and rain around. Adapting could be critical and Australia should do it most desirable, whereas they have got good tempo bowlers up front.

picture: Can Pat Cummins help Australia continue the T20 World Cup title? His facet gained the 2021 edition in the UAE

Jasprit Bumrah's damage is a blow for India, as is the absence of Ravi Jadeja, an excellent all-round cricketer. Bumrah is doubtless the most advantageous multi-structure bowler on the planet - a wicket-taking alternative up front with the brand new, swinging ball, a wicket-taking alternative within the middle overs and then astonishing on the demise as one of the vital most suitable slower ball and yorker bowlers round.

devoid of Bumrah, India will should go a little tougher with the bat. they have been a bit of timid with the bat in ICC activities recently however I don't feel they could be this time. I are expecting them to be dynamic and strong contenders.

EOIN: i assumed India losing Bumrah would have dropped them all the way down to second favourites with Australia the clear entrance-runners. With England's contemporary kind and Australia's lack of it, I do not see Australia as out-and-out favourites in the mean time.

England surpassed Australia their backsides on a platter final 12 months, which gave them the kick up the backside to play the way they did and finally go on to win the event - but at the moment they are struggling hugely.

there is uncertainly in what type of team they're going to put out and the bowling hasn't absolutely been up to scratch. Even in the heat-up video game against India they have been cruising and then folded like a deck chair late on. I think home skills may be massive for them but they aren't the standout team in the meanwhile.

photograph: India seamer Jasprit Bumrah will leave out the realm Cup via harm

ATHERS: You have to feel Australia would have a powerful opportunity on domestic turf and they seem to be just a little more suitable than remaining 12 months. they're a extra developed aspect and Tim David's probably inclusion offers them a little bit extra power.

Their players be aware of the conditions and they tend to be rather complicated to beat at domestic so I are expecting them to provide a superb account of themselves. As hosts and defending champions, they are the facet to beat.

Bumrah can be a large omit for India but you cannot bargain them with the strength of their batting and, like Nas, I consider they should be forced to head a bit of more durable with the bat in Bumrah's absence. it can clear their mind and method.

Pakistan are all the time contenders in T20 World Cups and i have a sneaking suspicion South Africa should be there or thereabouts.

true run-scorer

NASSER: It is going to ought to be someone on the correct of the order whose team do neatly and so i'd go with Buttler, but there are so many candidates. KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam, Mohammed Rizwan. Suryakumar Yadav is a wonderful player however he'll come in at No 4 for India, after Rohit, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli so you wonder how many balls he will face.

EOIN: i'm going for Jos. Even when i was nonetheless taking part in, I watched him play shots that made me think, I should still retire as a result of I cannot do this. he's on a special stage with how tough he hits the ball and how he is continuously attempting to evolve his game.

photo: Jos Buttler's skill and batting position provide him a true opportunity of being the event's leading run-scorer

ATHERS: search for the openers. Buttler should still do neatly and show he's one of the most reliable white-ball avid gamers on this planet. David Warner for Australia, too. And certainly Pakistan openers Babar and Rizwan. Pakistan do not take as many risks as some other groups attempting to get to a par or above-par ranking due to the energy of their bowling attack so it offers them the time to settle in.

excellent wicket-taker

NASSER: that is a somewhat harder alternative. You need someone who bowls at the loss of life so i would seem to be against Mitchell Starc or Bhuvneshwar Kumar. i'll go Starc as he might also get wickets up entrance after which come again on the conclusion together with his slower balls and yorkers.

EOIN: i used to be firstly going to move for a spinner and say Adil Rashid or Rashid Khan but the weather could negate the spin factor a touch. I think the ball will truly skid on and so i am going to assert a seamer. There are about five you could choose however i will be able to go for Mark wood.

ATHERS: you are new-ball wicket-takers, so a person like Shaheen Shah Afridi, who's again fit and has his in-swinging yorker going if the nice and cozy-up against Afghanistan is to move by means of. timber is also a contender but when I went for one, i'd say Shaheen.

Which players are you anticipating seeing?

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Take a glance at the most useful moments from Suryakumar Yadav's T20 century towards England at Trent Bridge this summer time

NASSER: in reality Suryakumar. here is his first predominant ICC event the place he's in completely phenomenal nick. he's a true 360-diploma batter, the style he manoeuvres the ball is incredible.

With the ball, or not it's Shaheen. i used to be fortunate ample to be commentating when he bowled that spell in opposition t India in Dubai ultimate year and i simply love his ability and the manner he performs the online game with a enormous smile on his face and his celebrations. he's a brilliant cricketer - new ball, historic ball, it doesn't depend.

With him, Babar, and Rizwan, if Pakistan can get their core-order hitting going - Fakhar Zaman may still assist with that and i would bat him at No three - they have got got a real chance during this tournament.

picture: healthy-once more Pakistan short Shaheen Shah Afridi is electrifying in full movement

ATHERS: There are one or two massive names lacking alas in Bumrah and one in every of my regularly occurring gamers, West Indies' Shimron Hetmyer, who didn't make his aircraft! The tournament may well be a true springboard for Suryakumar and bowling-wise it is Shaheen.

When he's steaming in with ball in hand and has a variety of aid in the back of him, which there's bound to be in that opening game against India on Sunday, it's high-quality theatre. There is no more exciting sight within the game than a fast bowler looking to take wickets with the brand new ball.

beyond that, South Africa's Tristan Stubbs is one to maintain a watch on. He played a brutal innings in opposition t England at Bristol over the summer time and is a player who has sprung from nowhere out of franchise cricket and now finds himself on the huge stage. he is a large hitter of a ball and could play some beautiful innings.

For England, I see Harry Brook as a celeb for England throughout formats and his strike fee on the conclusion of an innings in T20 is remarkable. He struggled slightly within the big Bash however he is a much better and greater assured participant now. I are expecting him to do well if he plays.

dark horses? graphic: Rilee Rossouw is a component of a powerful South Africa side that our pundits feel will contend for the T20 World Cup title

NASSER: For me, or not it's South Africa. The massive query for them is what to do with captain Temba Bavuma as he has been injured and out of form. they've Rilee Rossouw, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller and Aiden Markram with the bat, seamers like Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje should benefit from the circumstances, after which there is the wrist spin of Tabraiz Shamsi. Keshav Maharaj is a pretty good cricketer, too, plus they always container well. they're particular darkish horses.

ATHERS: I always say South Africa and that they at all times disappoint however I consider they've unhealthy batters, together with the returning Rossouw, and that their pace bowlers should thrive. I think South Africa offer the best value backyard the true three of England, India and Australia. You would be silly to write New Zealand off but I suppose they may additionally lack a little bit of firepower and that i had a way after they had been ultimate in England that in all probability one or two of the big-identify players who've held that group collectively for thus long are possibly not rather at their peak now.

EOIN: it's a full apartment for South Africa. they have every base lined - journey, firepower, a spin aspect that's world class. I believe the largest problem for them is getting around that notorious hoodoo of not pleasing their knowledge at World Cups. They simply should get their heads round that as they have got the capacity to beat the ultimate facets on earth, they have proven that. They just need to accept as true with in themselves. if they do that, they've an immense probability.

Watch England tackle Afghanistan reside on Sky activities Cricket on Saturday. Our coverage starts at 11.30am forward of a midday beginning.